Great Falls People and Pets of Great Falls - Ellington...

Great Falls Connection ❖ July 22-28, 2015 ❖ 1www.ConnectionNewspapers.com online at www.connectionnewspapers.com

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Summer WithBooks in Great FallsNews, Page 3

Old-fashioned FairAt Claude Moore FarmNews, Page 3

People and Petsof Great Falls

Pet Connection, Page 4

Summer WithBooks in Great FallsNews, Page 3

Old-fashioned FairAt Claude Moore FarmNews, Page 3

Pet Connection

Inside

Animal loverSamanthaGrayer of GreatFalls with herdog, Bradley.

2 ❖ Great Falls Connection ❖ July 22-28, 2015 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

Great Falls Connection ❖ July 22-28, 2015 ❖ 3www.ConnectionNewspapers.com

News

Great Falls Connection Editor Kemal Kurspahic

703-778-9414 or [email protected]

By Maddy Weingast

The Connection

Getting children to pick up abook over the summer is noeasy feat. But the FairfaxCounty Public Libraries aim to

do just that in their Summer Reading Pro-gram running from June 19 to Sept. 5.

The Summer Reading program targetspreschool, school age and teenagers in of-fering special programming events, like avisit from the Leesburg Animal Park at GreatFalls Library and a reading log. In Great Fallsthe program is co-sponsored by the Friends

of Great Falls Library.“The kids get a list here at the library or

they can sign up online. They have to read15 books for kids up to sixth grade. If they’reover sixth grade then they only have to read6 books,” said Leonah Arroyo, CommunityYouth manager librarian at Great Falls Pub-lic Library.

To get credit, children can read any newbooks they want but not the same bookrepeatedly. Fairfax County Public Librar-ies provide a suggested reading list basedon grade level, but participants are notrestricted to the options offered on thelist.

“When they’re done with their list theybring it into library and they get a little cou-pon book and in that it has all sorts of dif-ferent coupons for partnering organiza-tions,” said Arroyo.

Sponsors providing prizes in the couponbook include DC United, McDonalds, SixFlags and Shake Shack.

“I love summer reading—it’s so nice tohave unlimited time to read whatever in-terests me. It’s been fun reading books like‘Rush Revere and the American Revolution’and several from the Dolphin Diaries seriesespecially ‘Under the Stars and Riding theStorm’ which is my favorite,” said Ella

Dowley, 9-year-old Potomac School studentfrom Vienna.

According to the Fairfax County websitestudies have found that library visits,amount of time reading and the number ofbooks read contribute to youth success uponreturning to school in the fall.

“I think it’s an awesome program and kidsget so excited about it. We encourage kidsif they want to they can read above andbeyond,” said Arroyo. “It’s a good way toget the family into to reading.”

The program in Great Falls will be host-ing an Ice Cream Social on Aug. 27 at theGreat Falls Library.

Great Falls Library promotessummer reading program.Summer With Books in Great Falls

Photo by Maddy Weingast/The Connection

At Great Falls Library, the Summer Reading program is advertised in theChildren’s section. Special events are typically held in this area as well.

Photo courtesy of Leonah Arroyo

Members from the Leesburg Animal Park offered the children at GreatFalls Library an educational opportunity to learn about animals and seethem up close.

Visitors from all over attendedthe 18th Century Colonial Fair,immersing themselves in the

colonial times through food, merchan-dise and traditional activities.

The smell of traditional roastedchicken filled the air as the British flagwaved in the afternoon sun. Childrendressed in bonnets and buckled shoes

skipped through the gravel, giggling asthey weaved through the wide assort-ment of booths the July Market Fair atClaude Moore Colonial Farm had tooffer. From long-serving volunteers tofirst-time visitors, people of all agesenjoyed the two-day affair, despite theblistering heat.

Some highlights from the daily sched-

Claude Moore Colonial Farm Hosts 2015 Market Fairule included a swords demo, a militiamarch, a puppet show and a three-legged race. Mainly children took part inthe events throughout the day, whileparents could be seen purchasing goodsin the market, such as jewelry from “TheMillinery” and children’s toys from“Noah’s Ark.” Other popular features ofthe fair included a potpourri booth, a

Mother and daughter man the “Noah’s Ark”booth, Isabella Wright and Lucia Wright ofRockville.

blacksmith, lively fiddlers and foodbooths cheekily named “MotherClucks Bake Oven” and “The ShadyPoult and Piglet.” Missed out on allthe fun? Be sure to attend the nextMarket Fair this fall on Oct. 17-18.

— Caroline Watkins

Two families whose parents met through theMarket Fair: Idunn Taylor (W. Va), Anne Bova(Pa.), Charlotte Bova (Pa.) and Cynthia Taylor(W. Va).

Photos by Caroline Watkins/The Connection

“The Millinery” — Sarah Cooper (W. Va) andBecca Goughnour, of Herndon.


The Irwin family absolutely loves pets.They have seven that they take care ofeach day: two dogs, two cats, one bunnyand two horses. The mother of the fam-ily, Suzanne Irwin, said her love for petsstemmed from their warm-hearted per-sonalities. “Pets are very innocent; they’revery loving. They give a lot of affection.They need you.”

Each member of the Irwin family hasa special connection with certain pets.Suzanne feels close with the dogs, Lucyand Stella. Lucy is an adorable toy ratterrier, while Stella is a large, furryBernese mountain dog. Daughter Shelbyhas a bond with the cats, Pikachu andSylvester, and even though Pikachu is notvery outgoing and people-friendly,“Shelby can pick her up,” according toSuzanne. Shelby’s twin sister, Sarah, isclose with the bunny, Fuzzy Bug.

With all these animals under one roof,especially the cats, dogs and bunny, onemight think that the pets wouldn’t mesh.

Family with Seven Pets

From left — Shelby, Suzanne,and Sarah Irwin with their dogs,Lucy and Stella.

Luckily, however, the family reports that allthe pets get along. Suzanne added, though(smiling), that “We have enough pets!”

Andrew McCausland just graduated fromLangley High School and plans to attendthe University of Virginia, and though nu-merous other Langley students will do thesame, McCausland stands out from thecrowd thanks in part to his beloved pet, an11-year-old green-cheeked Conure namedSquawky. Squawky is in the middle of hislife span right now, as his life expectancy is25-30 years. The bird has a “quirky” per-sonality, according to McCausland, whocalled him “energetic [and]… always ex-cited to meet people.”

Squawky’s cage is filled with Amazonboxes, as he spends most of his day insidethe boxes making nests. If it’s not doing that,Squawky is eating. Andrew’s family givesSquawky a lot of freedom, letting him playin the sink during baths, which he loves,and feeding him all kinds of food, fromCheez-Its to the family’s dinner each night.The bird has a special bond with each fam-ily member, McCausland said. “He loves mymom because of her hair. He likes restingon top of [her] hair and playing with [it.]

He understands my dad is the leader of thefamily and always giving him snacks. Hesees me as a father figure.”

Andrew McCausland and his green-cheeked conure, Squawky.

Squawky Meets Neighbors

The Schnells might seem to be a familyof four, but they are actually a family of 10,since, according to mother Dawn Schnell,the family’s six pets are “really part of thefamily. They’re family members.” The ex-tended family includes three dogs, a her-mit crab, a freshwater suckerfish, and mostunusual of all, a bearded dragon.

The bearded dragon belongs to Dawn’s12-year-old daughter Katherine. Dawn wasoriginally skeptical about having a reptilefor a pet, but was convinced when Katherinedid “three or four months of research” onthe lizard, and created a chart about howshe could pay and care for it. The pet store

where Katherine bought her beardeddragon told her the animal was a boy, whoshe named Sandy, but upon further researchin the lizard encyclopedia, Katherine real-ized it was actually a girl. “Thankfully,” saidKatherine, “Sandy’s a gender-neutral name,so it worked out!”

As for the family’s more conventionalpets, Ruby is the eldest dog, a 15-year-oldblue tick hound-golden retriever, but shestill manages to get along with the young-est dog, a 3-month-old shepherd-boxer mixpuppy named River. In between is Mudge,a 3-year-old Swiss shepherd mix, who is 10-year-old Charlie’s favorite. Explains Dawn,

A Bearded Dragon Joins Family

Dawn Schnell poses with heryoungest dog, River, and her oldestdog, Ruby.

Katherine Schnell’s beardeddragon, Sandy.

“It’s really nice for kids to grow up and seethe circle of life and what it takes and thatcommitment.”

See People and Pet, Page 8

By Cooper Davis

The Connection

Josh and Jill Baker have one ratherunusual pet, a corn snake, with theclever name Cornelia. The Bakerscame to have their pet when their

older daughter, Danielle, volunteered at anature center in North Carolina where oneof the corn snakes had babies, one of which

Danielle took home to Virginia. Luckily, ac-cording to Jill, the snake is not hostile, as itis very calm and lets people hold it. Thesnake’s diet is a little inconvenient, how-ever, as it eats frozen mice. One time, Joshreceived a FedEx package, and “I thought itwas some clothing I ordered,” when in fact,“I opened it up and it was frozen mice indry ice!”

Although the Bakers enjoy their snake,

Cornelia’s ‘Inconvenient Diet’Cornelia, who they have had for three years,they have an even deeper connection withtheir rescue dog, Izzy, who they adopted thispast year. “We felt strongly about rescuinga dog that might otherwise be euthanized,”Jill said, “so we adopted our last two dogsfrom rescue organizations because so many

dogs need homes.” The family picked Izzybecause she is goofy-looking, with her earssticking out flat, like Yoda, according todaughter Danielle. Josh, meanwhile, com-pares Izzy to Ferdinand, the famous bullfrom the children’s book, since they bothlike to “smell the flowers just quietly.”

Josh Baker pets his dog, Izzy.

Jill Baker and her dog, Izzy. Jill Baker holds her corn snake, Cornelia.

Photos by Cooper Davis/The ConnectionPet Connection


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To ensure that every child in the schooldistrict is prepared for school, Fairfax CountyPublic Schools (FCPS) has launched Collect forKids, a coordinated school supply drive tobenefit needy FCPS students. The drive willprovide school supplies for the 2015-16 schoolyear for students who qualify for free andreduced-price meals; donors may contribute cashthat will be used to purchase as many supplies aspossible, backpacks, or calculators. Approxi-mately 52,000 FCPS students receive free andreduced-price meals.

Citizens can support FCPS students in one ofthree ways:

❖ Cash donations. By partnering with OfficeDepot, Kitz for Kids, and Wal-Mart, Collect forKids purchases school supplies in bulk, translatinga $1 donation into $3 worth of school supplies. A$10 donation can fill a backpack with FCPS-

approved supplies. Donations are accepted online.❖ Backpack donations. Donations of new

backpacks can be brought to any Apple FCU orNorthwest FCU branch, or to any affiliatedorganization. Visit Apple FCU or Northwest FCUfor branch locations. There is always a need foradditional large backpacks for high schoolstudents.

❖ Calculator donations. Calculators, whichwill help support students in STEM (science,technology, engineering, and math) subjects, canbe donated to Apple FCU or any partnered not-for-profit organization. The Collect for Kidswebsite lists partners: http://collectforkids.org/partners/. Preferred models are the TI 30XaSolar School Edition or TI-84 Series calculators,but other models may be donated.

The Collect for Kids program runs throughSept. 4.

FCPS Launches Collect for Kids School Supply Drive

The Great Falls Senior Center (GFSC)event for Aug. 4 features Don Hakenson.His topic will be Mosby’s Raid into FairfaxCourt House. Don Hakenson has spentcountless years researching Civil War inci-dents and sites in Fairfax County, especiallyregarding the confederate guerilla chieftainColonel John S. Mosby and his rangers.Hakenson is a past president of the Stuart-Mosby Historical Society, founder and mem-ber of the Board of Directors for theFranconia Museum and a civil war advisorfor the Mosby Foundation. Hakenson is aWashington, D.C. native who has lived most

of his life in Fairfax County.The Aug. 4 event will be held at The Great

Falls Grange, 9818 Georgetown Pike, GreatFalls. The program runs 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.and includes lunch. A modest contributionis appreciated. The event sponsor is theRotary Club of Great Falls. The Rotary meetsat the River Bend Country Club on Thurs-day morning for breakfast at 7:30 a.m.Meetings are open to the public. For moreinformation visit www.rotarygreatfalls.org.Reservations are a must. To reserve, emailPolly Fitzgerald at [email protected] call 703-759-4345.

Week in Great Falls

Great Falls Senior Center Welcomes BackDon Hakenson


Opinion

The Connection’s annual Newcom-ers and Community Guides willpublish Aug. 26.

A bevy of interns, plusstaff writers and editors, are preparingthis year’s editions, but we need helpfrom our readers.

What tips do you have for someone gettingto know the community?

We’re hoping to share special places, activi-ties, events, organizations and volunteer op-portunities. What should someone new to yourneighborhood know about? Events that shouldnot be missed? Organizations that do a greatjob? Places to volunteer? Tips for navigatingyour PTA or your school’s front office? A greatplace to see the sunset? We’d love to have yourphotos to go along with your suggestions.

Faith organizations, nonprofit orga-nizations, clubs, environmental groups,advocacy groups, youth sports teamsand others who offer events open to

the public are invited to send a paragraphabout the organization and how to get in-volved.

We will publish a selection of local tips alongwith a plethora of information useful to new-comers and long-time residents alike, includ-ing our award-winning Insiders Guide to theParks, information on how to vote and more.

See last year’s community guides by goingto www.connectionnewspapers.com/PDFs/and scrolling down to Newcomers.

Email tips and photos to [email protected] or send as a letter tothe editor via the website at http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/contact/letter/.Send in your Insider’s Tips by Friday, Aug. 14.

For information on advertising, [email protected] or call 703-778-9431.

Share tips in upcomingNewcomers andCommunity Guides.

What’s Special about Your Community?

Editorial

By U.S. Rep. Gerry

Connolly (D-11)

Special to the Connec-

tion Newspapers

If you were amongthe thousands de-scending upon Tysons

Corner Center this summerfor the grand opening ofthe new Hyatt Hotel, which in-cluded a concert and fireworks,you experienced firsthand thetransformation taking place thereand throughout the Dulles Corri-dor thanks to the arrival of Metro’sSilver Line.

It was just one of many mile-stones we’ve celebrated as wereach the one-year anniversary ofcompletion of Phase 1 of SilverLine service from East Falls Churchthrough Tysons to Wiehle-RestonEast.

Previously, the mall was acces-sible mainly by car and one oftenhad to contend with fierce trafficto get there. Today, the Tysons Sta-tion is one of Metro’s busiest onSaturdays.

With the opening of the mall’splaza connecting with the Metrostation and new offices, apart-ments, and the hotel, the outdoorspace is bustling with families din-

ing alfresco, dancingto one of the Fridaynight concerts, or try-ing their hand at thefree games and activi-ties set up throughoutthe plaza.

And that’s just thebeginning of thetransformation! The

changes around the malls are em-blematic of what we’re seeing takeplace across Tysons and Reston.Thanks to the Silver Line, peopleare doing something that up tonow was unthinkable: They arewalking to work, to eat, to shop,or to their homes.

The collection of office parksand shopping centers, once sur-rounded by vast expanses of park-ing, are now being connected tothe Silver Line by raised walkwaysinterspersed with pocket parks.Today, you can even walk off thetrain at Tysons or Reston to shopat a local farmers market!

Take a ride on the Silver Linethrough Tysons and out to Restonand you can see the transforma-tion we envisioned taking shape.At least five new buildings includ-ing new high-rise apartmentsopened in the past year, and theconstruction cranes dotting the

skyline and projects in the pipe-line give us a glimpse of what’s tocome.

The growing ridership on theyear-old Silver Line demonstratesthe pent-up demand for transit inthe corridor. Wiehle-Reston Eastcontinues to be the busiest SilverLine station with nearly 9,000 rid-ers a day, and during the morningrush it is the third highest revenue-generating station across the en-tire Metro system. Overall, SilverLine ridership is exceeding expec-tations with an average of 16,000rider trips per day.

Northern Virginia’s economy isalso feeling a boost. The 23-mileDulles Corridor, with five Fortune500 companies and numerousother firms headquartered there,already accounts for 25 percent ofthe region’s gross domestic prod-uct.

By connecting downtown Wash-ington and suburban Maryland tothe region’s second largest em-ployment corridor, the Silver Linehas created new opportunities forour workforce. And the growingcommercial tax base along the cor-ridor, already a primary driver ofthe regional economy, will relievesome of the burden on local prop-erty taxpayers and help sustain our

investments in schools, publicsafety, and parks.

Within a few years, Phase 2 willextend the Silver Line to Dullesand Loudoun County, providing anew link to our premier interna-tional airport and opening a newcommuting option for the outersuburbs.

Over my two decades of serviceas Chairman of the Fairfax CountyBoard of Supervisors and now asCongressman for Virginia’s 11th

District, construction of the SilverLine topped my list of priorities. Iwas proud to work with other lo-cal, state, and federal leaders tokeep this important project ontrack and I am excited about thefuture benefits of this transit lineto our region.

I hope you share this excitementand will join us in celebrating theone-year anniversary of the SilverLine and the positive transforma-tion to come.

Congressman Gerald E. Connollyrepresents Fairfax and Prince WilliamCounties and the City of Fairfax in theU.S. House of Representatives. At theceremony marking the opening of theSilver Line one year ago, then MetroGeneral Manager and CEO RichardSarles said about Connolly: “Withouthim, we wouldn’t be here today.”

After One Year, Silver Line is Changingthe Face of Northern Virginia

To the Editor:In the last week’s Editorial

(“Backpacks for All,” ConnectionJuly 16-22, 2015) several alarm-ing statistics were revealed aboutFairfax, and other local counties,about kids needing help in acquir-ing the necessities of life: food,clothing, school supplies. The list

gets longer each school year. Thisarticle also identified worthy or-ganizations, both public and pri-vate, dedicated in helping ourkids. Even my own church here inSpringfield has a backpack pro-gram where caring members dis-tribute healthy food items eachFriday afternoon to several local

schools during the year.Fairfax County is a comfortable

community to live. People all overthe nation come here for jobs andfor its outstanding schools, sup-ported by dedicated andhardworking teachers. Life is goodfor many living here, but lest weforget, at times those deservingcitizens need some help in our

community. Those organizationsidentified in this article are excel-lent places to go and donate thebasics items so needed by our kids.We can help to insure our kids willhave a good start this coming newschool year.

Ronald L. BakerSpringfield

Helping Those in NeedLetters to the Editor

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Great Falls


A Gem in the Heart of Great Falls!

703-404-1117 [email protected] www.Sci-MathSchool.com

Open House on July 26th • 4 P.M.Now Enrolling Students for Fall 2015!

To the Editor:Thank you for your insightful

editorial headlining support fornonpartisan redistricting (“Yes toNonpartisan Redistricting,” July9). The League of Women Votersof Virginia has been advocating fora nonpartisan redistricting com-mission for at least ten years, eversince the last round in 2011 of slic-ing and dicing up the voting dis-tricts so that legislators can choosetheir voters.

It is difficult to get voters ener-gized enough about this to urgetheir legislators to give up anypower. It is also a fairly compli-cated concept that comes up onlyevery 10 years.

However, we feel the currentprocess is a serious challenge toour democracy. As you pointedout, a huge number of Virginiansare not being fairly represented,especially in northern urban areas.Communities have been cut intomultiple pieces with little in com-mon with Virginians miles away.Voters have become disengagedand don’t bother to vote.

Yes, gerrymandering has goneon for centuries and apparently

was even invented in Virginia, inspite of its name. But the latestline-drawing technology hastaken the process to new “lows.”Look at a map of the congres-sional and legislative districts tosee what has been done to yourvoting rights.

The League has many resourcesfor becoming informed and foradvocating with your legislators,plus copies of the maps mentionedabove, on our website. Go to http://lwv-va.org/redistriciting.html.

Another good source of informa-tion is a coalition calledO n e V i r g i n i a 2 0 2 1(onevirginia2021.org) that is gath-ering support across the state.

It may take a constitutionalamendment to effect change. Ac-tion must begin now or we will bestuck with the same lopsided, po-larized representation through2030. We urge concerned citizensto join us in this effort.

Lois Page and Dianne BlaisCo-presidents

League of Women Voters ofVirginia

[email protected]

Redistricting Matters

Letters


Samantha Grayer, 8, and herparents have three pets: a shibainu dog named Bradley, a Siberiancat named Leo, and an aquariumfilled with tropical fish and othersea life. Despite the stereotype offeuding cats and dogs, Bradley andLeo are best friends. “Leo is veryattached to Bradley,” said momJackie Grayer. “When we bring[Bradley] in from a walk, Leo willjump on him and put his armsaround him, like he’s hugginghim.”

The dog, Bradley, is closest toSamantha and Jackie. As Jackiesays, he is “more of ladies’ dog.”However, dad Larry is in charge ofthe fish tank. As he explains, “Ev-erything you see in there is alive,”from colorful clownfish and blue damsels, to wav-ing coral, to multiple kinds of crabs and shrimp, tonearly 100 starfish. The Grayers got lucky with theiraquarium, as most of the bunch has been together,surviving, for the past seven years.

In addition to the family’s three permanent pets,

they often have “visiting pets,” according to Larry.At the moment, their visiting pet is an American toadfrom their backyard creek named Tommy. Tommy isjust one of many examples of Samantha taking in ortaking care of animals in her neighborhood, frombaby birds and turtles to snakes.

People and Pets

Samantha Grayer: Animal Lover

Samantha Grayer smiles in front of her home aquarium.

Animal lover Samantha Grayer with herdog, Bradley.

Animal lover Samantha Grayer with hercat, Leo.

A shrimpcleans theGrayer familyaquarium.

There are a few universal truths about dogs, at least amongthe pet owners interviewed. Most feel that if their dog couldtalk, he or she would ask for more food or treats. Manydogs enjoy chewing up shoes and other belongings. Quite a

few eat or roll in poop. But even with all of the naughty behaviors,most feel that their dog is absolutely the best dog in the world.

The Best Dogs inthe World

Aubrey and Abigail Augustine, of McLean, love Sundance.And they can prove he has the power of speech. “It’s nottime for dinner,” they tell Sundance. And darned ifSundance doesn’t reply with a long, slow, sad whine,“Nooooooooo.”

Jim and I have two beagles. He really wanted dogs. Ireally didn’t. But now, after 13 years, I’m one of thosecrazy dog people.

Courtney Cuppernull and her sister, Caylee, of Great Fallsare both very attached to 11-year-old Amstel. “He’s theglue of our family,” says Caylee. Courtney is quick tochime in, “Everyone says their dog is the best, but Amstelreally is. He always knows what you need and gives it toyou.”

Photos by Joan Brady

Pet Connection


Tessa Keyser ofVienna’slabradoodle,Bella, is a greatfriend. “Whenyou feel down,she is there foryou. When youfeel happy,she’s there tocelebrate withyou. You cantell her allabout your dayand your se-crets and shealways listens.”

Claire andMadelyn Bonadio,of Great Falls,probably haveone of the smart-est dogs around.Apparently,Wrigley finallygot caught afterspending daysstealing boxes ofGirl Scout cookiesfrom the garageand stashing theempty boxes in ahole he dugbehind a tree.

Avery Carter, ofVienna, loves tolove on Boo.When no one isaround, Averyadmits he talksto Boo in ababy voice,even thoughhe’s not apuppy any-more. Outsideof home, Boo’sfavorite placeto be is the dogpark.

Will and LauraKoeppen, ofMcLean, say thatMatti’s biggestaccomplishmentis that she won acutest dog photocontest in theOuter Banks. And,she isn’t justgood-looking, shewatches out forher people. IfMatti could talk,she would tell herfamily, “I am yourprotector.”

Cats benefit from being in a fosterhome. We need long- and short-term

fosters for cats of all ages, motherswith litters and kittens on their own.

Email [email protected].

Adopt/Donate/Volunteer atwww.lostdogrescue.org

ConsiderFostering

You Can Make a Difference

visit the website, cl ick on Participate


See Calendar, Page 11

ONGOING“The Healing Wall.” Tuesdays –

Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., throughAug. 1. Vienna Art Center, 115Pleasant St., NW, Vienna. “TheHealing Wall” is assembled from twodozen puzzle pieces created bysoldiers recovering at the Fort BelvoirCommunity Hospital. Each piecemakes a powerful statement by itselfas well as part of the larger puzzle.

Restful Pause. Wednesday-Saturday,through Aug.1. Katie’s Coffee House,760 Walker Road, Great Falls. RobertGilbert brings his nine, framed still-life paintings to exhibit. The subjectsare wine bottles, wine glasses,ceramic pots, fruits and vegetables.

The paintings are realistic in someareas and impressionistic in others.

What’s in Your Garden? Tuesdays -Saturdays, through Aug. 1. ViennaArts Society “Gallery in the VillageGreen,” 513 Maple Ave. W, Vienna.Featured artist Loy McGaughy ofReston exhibits a collection ofwatercolors inspired by her personalphotographs. The exhibition includesmore than a dozen other artists.

Tysons Concerts on the Plaza.Fridays, through Aug. 7. 6-8 p.m. atTysons Corner Center, 1961 ChainBridge Road, Tysons Corner. Sit backand enjoy live music with a specialline up each week.Tickets areavailable on a first-come, first-servebasis beginning at 10 a.m. each

Friday morning in the mall concourseon level 2 next to ZARA.

Summer Reading Program. Friday-Sunday, through Sept. 5. 10 a.m.-5p.m. at Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike Great Falls. Attendsummer events and check out books.All ages. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

Great Falls Concerts on the Green.Sundays, through Sept. 6. 6-8 p.m. atGreat Falls Village Centre Green.Come out on Sundays and listen tosome live music. Visit http://www.celebrategreatfalls.org/concerts-on-the-green/.

Vienna’s Summer on the GreenConcert Series. Fridays-Sundays,

through Sept. 27. 6:30 p.m. atVienna Town Green, 144 MapleAvenue E, Vienna. Come out on theweekend and listen to some goodmusic.Visit http://www.viennava.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2640

WEDNESDAY/JULY 22Woof, And Paws- Read to a Dog.

2:30, 2:45, 3, 3:15 and 4 p.m. PatrickHenry Library, 101 Maple AvenueEast, Vienna. Need a little readinghelp? Sign up to read with a readingtherapy dog. Age 6-12. Registeronline at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ph/.

Pokemon League. 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Drop-in and playPokemon with your friends.Information at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

THURSDAY/JULY 23Reading Buddies. 4:30 - 6 p.m. Great

Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. Teen Volunteersavailable to read to or with beginningreaders. Ages 3-9. Register at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

Kids Book Club. 5:30 p.m. Great FallsLibrary, 9830 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. Ages 8-12. Call branchfor title. 703-757-8560.

“Not Just for Teens” Adult BookClub. 7 - 8 p.m. Patrick HenryLibrary, 101 Maple Avenue East,Vienna. Are you an adult who lovesYA lit? If so, join for discussion, funand dessert. June’s title will be TokyoHeist by Diana Renn. Adults. Registerat http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ph/.

Starlight Storytime. 7- 7:45 p.m.Dolley Madison Library, 1244 OakRidge Avenue, McLean. Wear yourfavorite pajamas and join us forstories and songs. All ages. Registerat http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/dm/.

All-American Boys Chorus. 10:30a.m. Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road,Vienna. Boys choir playing songsfrom the Beach Boys to contemporaryfavorites. Ages 8-14. Tickets $8. Visitwww.wolftrap.org

Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! 8 p.m.Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna.Watch comedians, journalists,celebrity guests, and more competein NPR’s award-winning currentevents quiz show. Tickets $25-$60.Visit www.wolftrap.org

FRIDAY/JULY 24Playdate Cafe. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Great

Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. Toys and play space forchildren. Coffee and conversation forgrownups. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

Pokemon League. 3- 6 p.m. PatrickHenry Library, 101 Maple AvenueEast, Vienna. Learn and play. Age 5-18. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/ph/.

Family Game Time. 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Drop-in and playassorted board games. All skill levelsand ages welcome. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

Fangirl Friday. 7 p.m. Barnes &Noble, 7851 L. Tysons Corner Center,McLean. Fangirls unite and celebratefandom. Get introduced to theWomen of Marvel, enjoy cosplay,giveaways and much more.

Kayak Tour-Sunset OverRiverbend. 5:30– 7:30 p.m.Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac HillsSt., Great Falls. A kayak tour of theupper Potomac River. Tickets: $38.Visit fairfaxcounty.gov.

SATURDAY/JULY 25West Coast Swing Dance. 7 p.m.

Colvin Run Dance Hall, 10201 ColvinRun Road, Great Falls. A mix ofHustle and West Coast Swing musicDJ’d by Ed Cottrell. Dress varies fromcasual to party. $15.www.colvinrun.org.

Kids Gardening Workshop. 10 a.m.Great Falls Library, 9830 GeorgetownPike, Great Falls. Come and learnhow garden. Ages 5-12. Registeronline at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/

Calendar Send announcements to [email protected]. Deadline is Fridayfor the following week’s paper. Photos/artwork encouraged.


Don’t leave your child on the sidelines –register for fall soccer programs TODAY!

Great Falls Soccer Club offers programs for childrenaged 3 through 18 including Little Kickers (U3-U4),

Big Kickers (U5), House League (U6-U10),Suburban Friendship League (U11+)and competitive travel teams (U9+).

For more informationor to register, visitwww.greatfallssoccer.com

From Page 10

branches/gf/.Kayak Mini Float Trip. 11 a.m.

Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac HillsStreet, Great Falls. A scenic wagonride from the Visitor Center to thelaunch site at Riverbend Park,followed by a 1.5-mile instructor-ledfloat trip down through riffles andflat water. No previous experiencenecessary. Cost is $38. Forinformation, call 703-759-9018.

Great Falls Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Year round. Great Falls VillageCentre, 778 Walker Road, GreatFalls. www.celebrategreatfalls.org/FarmersMarket.html.

SUNDAY/JULY 26Wagon Ride-Journey to the

Potomac River. 7 – 9 a.m.Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac HillsSt., Great Falls. Take a wagon ridealongside the Potomac River andlearn about the park. Tickets: $5.Visit fairfaxcounty.gov.

Leave No Trace AwarenessWorkshop. 9 – 11 a.m. RiverbendPark, 8700 Potomac Hills St., GreatFalls. Participants will be trained inthe Leave No Trace outdoor skillsand ethics program. Tickets: $8. Visitfairfaxcounty.gov.

TUESDAY/JULY 28Pre-school Storytime. 10:30 - 11:15

a.m. Great Falls Library, 9830Georgetown Pike, Great Falls. Join usfor stories, songs and activities. Age3-5 with adult. Register at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

THURSDAY/JULY 30Reading Buddies. 4:30- 6 p.m. Great

Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. Grab a buddy! TeenVolunteers available to read to orwith beginning readers. Ages 3-9.Register at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

FRIDAY/JULY 31Playdate Cafe. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Great

Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown Pike,Great Falls. Toys and playspace forchildren. Coffee and conversation forgrownups. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/gf/.

Family Game Time. 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.Great Falls Library, 9830 Georgetown

Pike, Great Falls. Drop-in and playassorted board games. All skill levelsand ages welcome.

Kayak Tour-Sunset OverRiverbend. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.Riverbend Park, 8700 Potomac HillsSt., Great Falls. A kayak tour of theupper Potomac River. Tickets: $38.Visit fairfaxcounty.gov.

Parent & Child Fishing by Boat. 5 –7 p.m. Riverbend Park, 8700Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. Enjoyfishing with your kids. Tickets: $16.Visit fairfaxcounty.gov.

Pushcart Players. 10:30 a.m. WolfTrap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna.Pushcart Players brings “Alice inWonderland” to life. Tickets $10.

Calendar

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George C. Marshall High School re-cently hired Valerie Gibbons as its newhead girls’ lacrosse coach.

Gibbons has been an assistant atMarshall for the past four seasons, help-

ing the Statesmen win two conferencetitles.

Gibbons played high school lacrosse atFalls Church and went on to play atGeorge Mason University.

Marshall Hires Girls’ Lax Coach

Sports

By Jon Roetman

The Connection

Weston Simonides was off toa rough start in the springof 2014 and the Langleyjunior was nervous prior to

taking the field. Earl Brewer, Langley’s long-time boys’ lacrosse coach, could senseSimonides’ anxiousness and moved in tocalm the Saxon attackman.

“This is not pressure, this is fun,” Brewertold Simonides. “Pressure is having bulletsfly past you every day for a living. This isjust lacrosse. Go out and have fun.”

In 2012, three-time defending state cham-pion Langley was facing Chantilly in theVHSL AAA state final. The Saxons werewithout standout defenseman ChandlerSuk, who was injured the previous game,and the Chargers had just increased theirlead with another goal when Brewer said:“We’ve got them right where we wantthem.”

Langley went on to win, 12-8, and cap-ture its fourth consecutive state title.

Brewer, 59, retired on July 9 after 21 sea-sons as head coach of the Langley boys’ la-crosse program, citing the desire to spendmore time with his family. He compiled a288-87 record with the Saxons, winning 10district/conference titles, two region cham-pionships and four consecutive state titlesfrom 2009 to 2012.

Brewer also coached six seasons at FairfaxHigh School, bringing his 27-year VHSLcoaching record to 326-108. Brewer led theRebels to the Western Division champion-ship in 1990.

But Brewer was more than just a coachcompiling championships. He was a calm-ing influence who showed you didn’t haveto shout at your players to gain their re-spect.

“[H]e did a great job of setting an ex-ample of how to conduct yourself as aleader,” former Langley defensive standoutBrad Dotson wrote in an email. “It would’vebeen easy for him to lose his cool andscream at us pretty frequently; he was al-most babysitting at times when I look backat how much we screwed around. We didn’tmake it easy for him but he always got usmoving toward our goal with a positive at-titude. It’s much more encouraging to playfor someone who inspires you to follow himas opposed to someone that screams andmakes threats for when you screw up."

“Brewer always set the example of howto motivate the people toward the goal ofthe team.”

Dotson, a four-year varsity player whograduated from Langley High School in2013, was part of three state championshipteams and is now a rising junior defensemanfor the Bucknell University men’s lacrosse

team. Brewer’s “We’ve got them right wherewe want them” line from the 2012 state fi-nal is Dotson’s favorite memory of playinglacrosse at Langley.

“Coach Brewer stayed calm and had thesame demeanor when we were down threeas when we were up five,” Dotson wrote.“That was a great team. We were all reallyclose that year.”

Simonides is a 2015 Langley graduatewho will play club lacrosse at James Madi-

son University next year.“Nothing ever shook Coach Brewer; the

man has ice in his veins,” Simonides wrote.“He always made it seem that no matterwhat situation the game was in, the otherteam was right where he wanted them. Heis also the most caring coach there is. Hegenuinely cares for each player on his teamlike they are family, which is really some-thing that always helped us grow so muchas a team. As an athlete, Coach Brewer not

only made me into a much smarterand better lacrosse player, but also wasable to instill confidence in me andhelp me grow into a more reliableplayer and a better leader.

“In the few years I played for him,he never built our teams around su-perstars, but instead he took time todevelop each player into a specific roleto help us win games.”

Brewer is attentive to his players,but his desire to spend more timewatching his son, Drew Brewer, playlacrosse is one of the main reasons hedecided to retire. Drew is a rising se-nior defenseman at Chantilly HighSchool and Brewer missed many of hisgames while coaching the Saxons.

“Missing so many of his games thispast year started to get to me a littlebit,” said Brewer. “… Days are short.You don’t get these memories back. Ithought it was the right thing to do.… I added up how many [of Drew’s]games I watched and I think it wasseven, and that bugs me a little bit.”

Brewer said his fondest memoriesof coaching at Langley were during theSaxons’ four consecutive state cham-pionships. Langley defeated Chantillyin the 2009, 2011 and 2012 state fi-nals, and beat Loudoun Valley in 2010.

“They refused to lose,” Brewer said.“… I’m very good friends with all thoseguys from those teams. …. When youreach the highest level you can obtain,those people are always going to havespecial place in your heart.”

Brewer will continue coaching falland summer lacrosse for Virginia Elite.As for Langley, Brewer said he’s leav-ing the Saxons on a “high note,” ref-erencing a strong 2017 class. Langleystarted 4-7 in 2015, but respondedwith eight consecutive victories andeventually reached the state semifi-nals.

“I’ve made so many friends alongthe way,” Brewer said. “I’m so proudof my players.”

Brewer’s players are fond of him,too.

“Recruiting, skill development,learning the game, you name it,”Dotson wrote. “Coach Brewer got meto where I am as a player. I have himto thank for the countless memoriesand close friends I made through theLangley lacrosse family.”

Brewer totaled 288wins, 4 state titleswith Saxons.

Langley Boys’ Lacrosse Coach Brewer Retires After 21 Seasons

Photo by Craig Sterbutzel/The Connection

Earl Brewer retired after 21 seasons as head coach of the Langley boys’lacrosse program.

“[H]e did a great job ofsetting an example ofhow to conduct yourselfas a leader.”

— 2013 Langley graduateBrad Dotson, via email,

about lacrosse coach Earl Brewer

Great Falls Connection Sports Editor Jon Roetman

703-752-4031 or [email protected]


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Sports

Great Falls All-Star Majors continued ontheir roll on Saturday, July 18, when theybeat McLean National, 19-8, to win theDistrict 4 Little League Championship.The score is misleading, however, as itwas a tight game until Great Falls ex-ploded with 10 runs in the sixth inning.Great Falls, which had struggled to findpower in their previous semi-final, game,

Great Falls All-Star Majors Win District Titlebrought their bats on Saturday, hittingnine home runs, including three off thebat of Nick Faili. This represents anunprecedented fourth consecutive districtMajors championship for Great Falls,which will now vie for the state champi-onship in Richmond starting July 23.

— Cooper Davis

Photo by Cooper Davis/The Connection

District Champion Great Falls poses in front of the scoreboard of theirchampionship game. From left: Steven Trautwein, Nick Faili, Will Leger,Garret Appleton, Will Long, Bradley Carvajal, Ben O’Donnell, DonovanDiLenge, Max Nathan, Robert Hage, Holden Smith, Quinn Fish, SamZmuda. Not pictured: Manager Randy Long, Coaches Mike O’Donnell andLarry Zmuda.

Send school notes to [email protected] by Friday.

Dylan Phillips of Great Falls graduatedwith honors from James Madison Universitywith a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Informa-tion Systems.

Kristen Wolaver, daughter of John andBarbara Wolaver of Great Falls, and a 2013graduate of Langley High School, has beennamed to the Dean’s List for academic achieve-ment for the spring semester at the Universityof Pittsburgh. Kristen is a neuroscience majorwith a minor in chemistry at the Dietrich Schoolof Arts and Sciences at Pitt, where she will be-gin her junior year in August 2015.

Brendan Mullen, Langley HS grad class of2011, son of Mike and Debbie Mullen of GreatFalls, graduated Magna Cum Laude, with Dis-tinction from the Pennoni Honors College,Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. Brendanearned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biologi-cal Sciences and will be attending DrexelCollege of Medicine in the fall. While at Lan-gley, Brendan played goalie for the LangleySaxons Ice Hockey team and at Drexel, playedon two inline teams, one of which won thePhiladelphia College Roller Hockey Leaguechampionship this spring.

George Mahaney-Walter, son of MaryClaire Mahaney and Herbert Walter of McLean,was awarded the degree of Master of BusinessAdministration in recent commencement exer-cises at the Simon School of Business of theUniversity of Rochester.

Northern Virginia Community Collegeis preparing to welcome 17 incoming HonorsProgram Scholars for the start of the 2015-2016academic year, which begins Aug. 24. Thescholarship provides $10,000 to be divided into

fall and spring semesters for two years, at$2,500 per semester. It will assist students withthe cost of tuition toward a NOVA degree.Natalia Chavez Choque and BenjaminAtherton, of McLean High School, re-ceived this scholarship.

Gabrielle Greco, of Vienna, daughter ofDrs. Stephen and Judith Greco, was named tothe Dean’s List at the College of William andMary for the Spring Semester.

Dylan Maxwell Phillips, of Great Falls,has been named to the president’s list at JamesMadison University for the spring 2015 semes-ter. Students who earn president’s list honorsmust carry at least 12 graded credit hours andearn a GPA of 3.90 or above. Phillips is a seniorwhose major is Computer Info Systems - BBA.

School Notes

Photo contributed

Brendan Mullen


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EmploymentEmployment

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Kenny Lourie is an Advertising Representative forThe Potomac Almanac & The Connection Newspapers.

By KENNETH B. LOURIE

“Abyssful” Ignorance

Hopefully not. But you never know –per last week’s column, until you know.And the preferred pattern seems to be thatwaiting to be spoken to in person, a weekor so post-scan, is the best the process canbe; or at least, that’s the process that suitsthe doctor/HMO. Certainly I can appreci-ate how telling a patient bad news in per-son is a more prudent and professional,fail-safe type of approach than a phoneconversation or e-mail which is fraughtwith potential misinterpretation and possi-bly even unexpected and adverse conse-quences – especially for the patient/ recipi-ent of the distressing news. However, wait-ing a week for results is hardly ideal andcertainly not the stuff of which dreams aremade. In fact, it’s exactly the stuff of whichnightmares are caused.

Don’t get me wrong; I can take it.Waiting is not for everybody, however;unless you like suffering – then it’s perfectfor you. But why suffer in silence – or sufferat all? You already have, to quote Radarfrom a M*A*S*H episode: “One foot inthe grave and another on a banana peel,”so why double-down or even quadrupleyour odds and make us learn the meaningof the word excruciating? Why fiddle withRome when our emotions are alreadyburning? We (“terminal” cancer patients)deserve better. Heck, we deserve yourbest; and a week of talking ourselves inand out of a million scenarios, most ofthem bad, unnecessarily, is yet anotherexample of cruel and unusual punishment.(Shouldn’t we have some Constitutionalprotections, too?) And punishment forcrimes not committed is particularly diffi-cult. Still, I guess I should be thankful I’mnot incarcerated (although occasionally, Ido feel confined to my home) while wait-ing. In effect though, I am, emotionally. Toset these emotions apart from the everydayor compartmentalize them somehow ismuch easier theorized than actuallyaccomplished. Nevertheless, I don’t sup-pose nine days (between scan and results)are likely – ultimately – given the progres-sive nature of my disease, to change thecourse of history too much. However, itwill change the course of the next ninedays, and that’s all I’m focused on rightnow. When you’re in the same boat as Iam, time is all that matters, and wastingany of it (to me that means time lived notknowing results immediately or sooner) is aterrible option/reality. And again, given myoriginal diagnosis/prognosis, options arenot necessarily what you feel you have inabundance.

Whether delusional or based on anyfacts whatsoever, options are still youremotional lifeline. Not having them orreceiving them later than you’d prefer addsfuel to the fire that a cancer survivor feels(figuratively speaking). Besides, who knowswhat soothes the savage beast that lives inall of us “terminal” cancer patients? At leastfor me, not knowing or knowing after thefacts are likely in evidence is somewherebetween counter-productive and counter-intuitive. As soon as you know: tell me!What are you waiting for? Godot? Let meget on with what’s left of my life. I want tolive forward, not worry backward. I’m notlooking for control. I’m looking for consid-eration. If the patient matters so much,then don’t be so matter-of-fact aboutresults. Our lives may be shorter than weexpected, so why make us wait longer thanwe want? Time is on your side, not ours.

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GOLDY BRICKCONSTRUCTION

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703-250-6231

PAVING PAVING

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remodeling.703-863-7465

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If tomorrow were never tocome, it wouldnot be worthliving today.

-Dagobert Runes

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I'am a slow walker, but I never walk back.

-Abraham Lincoln


www.GreatFallsGreatHomes.com

Jan & Dan LaythamDianne Van Volkenburg

Office: 703-757-3222Susan Canis

Associate RealtorAnne Erickson

Associate Realtor 9841 Georgetown Pike • Great Falls VA 22066Sally MarvinAssociate Realtor

Great Falls $1,499,000



McLean $1,450,000

Great Falls $925,000

5 ACRES!


PRIC

E

REDUCED!

Great Falls $1,525,000Great Falls $1,300,000


JUST

LISTED



JUST

LISTED

PRIC

E

REDUCED!

PRIC

E

REDUCED!

PRIC

E

REDUCED!

PRIC

E

REDUCED!

Great Falls $915,000 Great Falls $1,325,000


Great Falls $829,000

Great Falls People and Pets of Great Falls - Ellington...

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